House Republicans at an Appropriations Committee markup of EPA’s fiscal year 2012 spending bill have attached several riders blocking key EPA policies. One of them affects EPA’s consultations with NMFS and FWS about pesticides under section 7 of the Endangered Species Act.

 Rep. Ken Calvert (R-CA) attached a rider that would prevent the agency from modifying, canceling or suspending the registration of a pesticide under section 3 or 4 of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, & Rodenticide Act in response to a final biological opinion or other written statement issued under section 7b of the ESA . The rider aims to address concerns from industry and others that biological opinions under the ESA by the National Marine Fisheries Service or Fish & Wildlife Service could lead to pesticide registration cancellations.